Refrigerated bottle dispensing device



NOV. 27, 1945. V T. .F. GREEN, .JR 2,389,519 REFRIGEBATED BOTTLE DISPENSING nEvxcE Q 7 4 I T J; -z

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Nov. 27, l945. T. F. GREEN, JR 3 3 REFRIGERATED BOTTLE DISPENSINGDEVICE Filed April 8, 1941 2 sheets-sheet? track.

Patented Nov. 27", 1945 PATENT OFFICE,

v -BEFBIGEBATEUBOTTLE DISPENSING DEVICE Thomas Francis Green, in, Richmond, Va.

Application April 8, 1941, Serial No. 887,497 c Claims. (01. 62- -1) This invention relates to dispensing devices and more particularly to a device for dispensing bottied beverages.

An object of this invention is to provide a device of this kind wherein the bottled beverage is maintained in a cooled condition.

- Another object of this invention is to provide a device of this kind which may have associated therewith a conventional cooling unit and which I includes means for circulating cooled air within a closed housing and about the bottlesin the housing. v f A further object of this invention is to provide an improved supporting track for the bottles and an improved means for circulating cooled air aloing the track.

A further object of this inventionis to provide an improved discharging cage for discharghis one bottle at a time, the cage being asso ciated with a coin or check controlled mechanism for regulating the operation of the discharging cage. A

A further object of this invention is toprovide an electrically operated air circulating fan structure in a. device of this kind and interposing a normally closed spring-pressed switch in cirsuit with the fan, the switch being normally held closed by the charging door, and movable under spring action to a circuit breaking position upon opening of the charging door so as to thereby stop circulation of the cool air by the fan during the time that the bottle track is being filled with bottles. A further object of this invention is to provide an improved bottle track or guide which is so constructed, that additional bottles may be supported from the end portions of the track and within the housing in order to pro-cool such additional bottles before they are inserted in the r In this manner the dispenser will be ha mediately available for a number oipre-cooled bottles after the track is rechar ed with uncooled bottles, the pre-coole'd bottles hi ing positioned in advance of the uncooled botfies. I

A further object of this invention is to provide in. a device of this kind an improved bottic'discharging cage which is of perforate construction so that cooled air may pass therethrough. and

which comprises a movable end of the bottle track, the cage being so constructed'that upon sequently operated by deposit or another coin or check.

To the foregoing objects and to others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically re ierred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein are shown embodiments of the invention. but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

inthe drawings:

Figure l is a detail front elevation of a combined bottle dispensing and cooling device constructedaccording to an embodiment of this invention,

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken through the-device,-

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-8 of Figure 2, 1

Figure 4 is a'iragmentary sectional view taken onthelineuofl 'igurea, v Figure 5 is a schematic view of the Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical section of the modified form or this invention,

Figure '7 is a sectional view taken on the line l-i of Figure 3, and

including side walls ii and it, a top wall it and a bottom wall M. The housing ll may be 7 constructed out of metal or the like and may also be insulated by any conventional insulating means so that the cold air within the housing ID will not be unduly affected by the temperature of the atmosphere outside of the housin The housing is is provided on the interior thereof with a bottle cooling chamber, generally designated as i5, and in this bottle cooling chammovement thereof to a'bottle discharging position, the'cage -will prevent the discharge or additional bottles from the track until the cage has been returned to its original position and subher to there is positioned abottle supportingtrach by meansoi which the bottles'containing the desired beverage are adapted to roll from an uppermost position on the track to a lowermost position for selective discharge into a lower discharging or receiving chamber it. The bottle u porting track comprises a plurality of opposed elongated tracks or plates II and i8, which are m-- ciined to the horizontal; the track member If being inclined to the horizontal in a direction opposed to the inclination oi the track member II. An upper track member I! is disposed above electric circults associated with this invention,

the uppermost track member I1 and is positioned in parallel relation to the track member I8. Each of the track members I1 is provided at its outer end portion with an upwardly inclined extension 20 and a vertically disposed extension 2| extends obtusely from the extension 20 and is fixedly secured to the inner face of the side wall I2.

An upwardly and inwardly inclined obtusely disposed extension 22 extends upwardly from the vertical extension 2| and provides a bottle receiving chamber 23 between the outer side of the extension 22 and the inner face of the side wall I2, within which a bottle B is adapted to engage in orderto pre-cool the bottle B when the entire track structure is filled with bottles. The outer end of the upper track member}! is fixedly secured to an inner wall 24, which is disposed in inwardly spaced relation to the side wall I I, thereby providing a return duct-or air chamber 25. The several track members I8 are of like construction to the track members I1 and each track member I8 is provided with an upwardly extending obtusely disposed extension 26. A vertically disposed extension 21 extends upwardly at an obtuse angle to the extension 25, and an inwardly projecting extension 28 extends upwardly and obtusely from the upper end of the extension 21. The extension 28 provides a. botttle receiving chamber 29 similar to the chamber 23 for initially receiving bottles, which are adapted to be precooled and which are adapted to be subsequently disposed within the track structure at a subsequent recharging of the track structure.

The inner end portion of the upper track member I9 is disposed in spaced relation to the vertical extension 2|, so that bottles may gravitatingly roll down over the upper surface of the inner end of the track member I8 and engage on the track member I1. In like manner the inner end 30 of the track member I1 is disposed inspaced relation to the vertical extension 21 and is also disposed in spaced relation to the upper end portion of the track member I8.

The oppositely inclined track members I1 and I8 not only provide a means for supporting the bottles for gravitational movement toward the lower portion of the cooling chamber I5, but also provide a means whereby a cooled draft of air may be forced upwardly and vertically through the cooling chamber I5. The track members I1 and I8 provide a tortuous passage for the cooled air'as it moves vertically within the cooling chamber I5, so that any bottles engaging on the several tracks or supporting members will be cooled by the rising cool air. A bottle delivering cage. generally designated as II, is disposed forwardly of the lower end of the lowermost track member l8 and comprises a semi-cylindrical perforate body 32, which is fixedly mounted between a pair of semi-circular discs or end members 83 and 34.

The end member 34 has secured thereto a shaft 38, which extends through the front wall 38 of the housing III. The shaft 38 extends through a small housing 40, which is secured to the outer face of the front wall 39, and preferably the housing 48 encloses a coin operating mechanism which is operatively connected with the shaft 38, so as to release the shaft 88 upon deposit of a coin in a coin slot or opening H at the upper end portion of the housing 40. The shaft 38 projects forwardly through the housing 48 and is provided at its forward end withan operating handle 42. In this manner upon deposit of a coin in the slot track member I9 and then drop down over the wardly so as to rotate the cage member 3I in a clockwise direction and thereby release one bottle, which is adapted to engage in the open side of the cage 3|. The open side of the cage 3| faces the upper portion of the lowermost track I8 and faces the bottles on the lowermost track I8, so that one bottle will normally be positioned within the cage 3| as shown in Figure 2.

In addition to providing a means for discharging or delivering the lowermost bottle from the lower track I8, the cage 3| also provides a means whereby the next succeeding bottle is locked against downward movement as rotation of the cage 3| in a clockwise direction will cause the varcuate surface of the perforate member 32 to contact with the next succeeding bottle prior to the complete discharge or delivery of the bottle which engages within the cage 3|.

The bottle which is released or delivered by means of the cage 3i is adapted to gravitatiugly drop down on a bottle delivering track or plate 43, which is disposed below the lowermost track I8 and which is inclined in a direction parallel with the track members I1. The outer end portion of th track 43 is provided with an upwardly inclined extension 44 disposed on an obtuse angle to the length of the track 43 and a vertical extension 45 extends upwardly from the extension 44 and is fixed to the inner side of the side wall I2. An upwardly and inwardly inclined extension 45 extends from the upper end of the vertical extension 43 and engages partly over and in spaced relation to the cage 3|, as shown in Figure 2. This extension 46 also provides a bottle supporting means whereby a bottle may rest on the extension 48 in order that such bottle may be cooled during the time that the complete track structure is filled with bottles. The lower delivery track 43 is substantially shorter in length than the width of the front and rear walls 81 and 39, and the track 43 is adapted to deliver a bottle onto a lower delivery member 41. The delivery member 41 includes an inner inclined track structure 48, which is inclined to the horizontal and inclined downwardly to the left as viewed in Figure 1, so that the bottle engaging the track 48 will roll to the left and onto a horizontally disposed bottle supporting member 49.

The bottle supporting member 48 is provided with a vertical end wall 50, and the bottle which is released by rotation of the cage 3! is adapted to normally engage on the horizontal delivery wall 43. A delivery door or closure 5I is hingedly secured as at '52 to the front wall 38 below the housing 48 and preferably the door 5! is spring-pressed to a normally closed position and .is provided with a knob or handle 53. A light bulb 54 is supported from a socket 55, which is secured to the under side of the delivery track 43 and the light bulb 54 is disposed inwardly of the door 5I.

A normally open switch structure 58 is disposed in a position whereby the closing of the door 5I will hold the switch 58 in an open position, but upon opening of the door 5| the switch 55 will move to a circuit closing position in order to energize'the light 54. In this manner the cus-.

tomer opening the door 5| will be able to readily view the bottle which has been released from the track by rotation of the cage 8|.

The housing I0 is provided in the front wall 33 thereof with a charging door 51 having a lock mechanism 58' of conventional construction and or opening H the handle 42 maybe rocked dow preferably the charging door 51 is of such a length that when the door 51 is opened, the substantial full length of the track structure will be exposed in order that the desired number of bottles may be inserted within the track structure. At the same time the opening of the door 51 will permit the placement of bottles on the auxiliary bottle supporting members 22, 28 and l 46, so that these latter bottles may be cooled below the cooling chamber It, being supported on a horizontal supporting bracket 60 which is secured to and extends inwardly from the inner wall M. The fan structure 59 is disposed above a perforate wall 60 and below the lowermost track member 18. A horizontally disposed inner bot-= tom wall ii is disposed above the bottom wall v l4 and below the bottle guiding and delivering wall 48. A cooling coil 62 is disposed in a cooling chamber 63, which is positioned above the inner bottom Bi and below the delivery track 48. The inner side wall It terminates at its lower end above-the inner bottom wall ti, so that the downwardly moving air in the duct 25 may pass under the lower edge of the inner side wall M and also pass through perforated plate titand between the convolutions of the cooling coil 62. The coil 62 may be supported in the cooling chamber 83 by means of the plate 6 3.

' In order to provide a means whereby the downwardly rolling bottles which drop from the traclr member 48 will be prevented iromstriking the fan blades 65, I have provided one or more ver- (iii tically disposed guard straps 88 provided within there may be two or more of the vertical straps 68, which may be of resilient construction so that the bottles will not be injured upon engagement with the straps or guards and the blades 85 may also be protected by a fan guard The space between. the inner bottom wall 'ti and the lower bottom It constitutes a machinery chamber 68, within which a cooling unit generally designated as 88 is adapted to be positioned. The cooling unit 69 is of conventional construction and includes a power member in a compressor II, a condenser l2 and a reservoir 13. The reservoir 13 is connected by a pipe 14 to a coil 62 and the opposite end of the coil 62 is connected by a pipe I5 to the compressor H. A- conventional expansion valve 14 is also interposed in the pipe 14. The power member Ill is preferably an electric motor, which is connected to a suitable SOIIIOG jOf electric current s'upply and may be operated either continuously or periodically by a well-known controlling or regulating means for providing the desired cooling of the coil 82. The inner bottom- 6| not only forms a cooling chamber 83, but also forms a bottom wall for holding condensed moisture which forms in the cooling chamber N. This moisture may be drained from the cooling chamber 83 by means of a drain pipe 16 which may be connected to a suitable carry-off means or receiver.

The fan motor TI is connected by means of a pair of conductors l8 and 19 to a normally closed switch structure 80, which is supported within the housing Ill in a position for engagement with the door or closure 51. When the door all is closed the switch structure will he in a circuit closing position, as shown in Figure 5, and upon opening of the door 51 the switch structure til will be moved to a circuit breaking position by means oi spring 8i. The switch structure at is somewhat similar to the switch structure at with the exception that the closure or door bl will maintain the switch structure 56 in a normally open position as shown in Figure 5, and upon opening of the door 5! the switch structure to is urged to a circuit closing position by means of a spring 82. The switch structure 56 is connected to a pair of conductors 8t and 84, which are con-' nected to the conductors l8 and "it respectively, and the light bulb 54 is interposed in the conductor 8d. The conductors l8 and 79 are adapted to be connected to the source of electric current supply which supplies electric current to the mo=- tor lit.

Air is drawn by a ran blade so through the Ken 62 and cooled thereby and then forced upwardly along the track structure, as shown by the arrows in Figure 2, and when the cool air reaches the top wall it the air will return downwardly through the return duct In order to provide a means whereby the hottles roiling downwardly on the tract: structure may be prevented from twisting and thus clog-=- ging the track, I have provided a narrow rail which is secured to one longitudinal edge of each track and which, as shown in Figure 'l is adapted. to engage against the bottom of the bottle. in this manner the bottom of the bottle is held against contact with the adjacent rear wall tics of the housing and this rail also facilitates the gravitational movement of the bottles on the sev, eral inclined tracks due to the fact that only a very small portion of the bottle bottom contacts rail 88 so that the rail 88 may be verticallyad justed to engage the necks of diflerent sizes oi bottles.

The angle members are adjustably secured to the tracks by fastening devices 92 engaging-in elongated slots 93 carried by the several tracks adjacent the front wall 89.

In order to provide a means whereby the bot: ties may have the contents thereof cooled to the desired degree I have provided an improvedthermai control for the cooling unit 89 in the form of a liquid receptacle 94 adapted to be filled with a suitable liquid, and a thermostat bulb s5 is extended through the stopper 96 and engages in the liquid contained by the bottle. The thermostat O5 is interposed in the conductor 19, and preferably -a control box 91 is also interposed in the conductor 19, the control box 81 housing a manual switch and a conventional fuse. The receptacle 94 may be positioned at any suitable point in the cooling chamber is and in Figure 2 the receptacle 94 is positioned adjacent the fan 59.

Referring now to Figure 6, there is here disclosed a housing structure Illa, which is similar in substantially every detail to the housing l and which has a bottle cooling chamber lia disposed therein. The housing Illa also includes an inner wall 24a forming a return air duct 25a and the track structure shown in Figure 2 is disposed within the housing Illa. The lowermost track member |8a terminates adjacent a bottle releasing or delivering cage 3la similar to the cage 3| and upon release of a bottle by rotation in a clockwise direction of the cage 3| a, the released bot-' tie is adapted to drop downwardly onto an inclined track 43a. The track 4341 in the present instance is perforated, as at 85, so that air may readily pass through the track 43a. In the present instance the track 43a is adapted to deliver the released bottle to a substantially U-shaped receiving member 86, which is disposed below the lower or free end of the track 43a. The receiving member 86 may be of perforate construction and is supported by a supporting bracket or arm 81. secured adjacent the lower end of the inner wall 24a. I

The returning air moving downwardly in the return duct 25a is adapted to pass beneath and then through the receiving receptacle as and along the upper surface of an inner bottom or wall 81a. A drain pipe 16a may be connected to the wall 6 la so as to drain out any condensate, which may collect on the inner wall or bottom am. The cooling coil 62a is disposed to the left of the receiving receptacle 86 is a position to intersect the movement of air along the upper surface of the bottom Bla and at a point above the coil 62a there is mounted a fan structure 59a, which is secured to the side wall l2a of the housing Ilia, The fan structure 59a is disposed in an inverted position whereby the fan blade 65a will force the air upwardly and vertically through the perforations 85 of the track 43a. In other respects the structure shown in Figure 6 is similar in every detail to the structure shown in Figures 1 to inclusive. A thermostat supporting receptacle 94a similar to the receptacle 94 may be positioned at one side of the fan 59a, and a light bulb 54a may be disposed above the receiver 86. The light bulb 54a and the thermostat bulb in the receptacle are'interposed in circuits similar to those shown in Figure 5.

In the use and operation of this bottle dispensing and cooling device the housing In is initially charged by opening the charging door 51 and inserting the bottles within the cooling chamber l5 and on the track members I! and II. The entire track structure may be filled with bottles, the filling operation being performed by filling the lowermost tracks and then passing to the next succeeding tracks. After the entire track structure has been filled additional bottles may be placed within the cooling chamber I! by placing the bottles on the supporting members 22, 28 and 46. These latter or additional bottles will not be available for discharge or delivery upon deposit of a coin in the coin controlled mechanism 40, but after the track structure has been exhausted or bottles the pre-cooled bottles may be removed from the supporting members 21, 2. and 46 and then placed in the lower portion of the track structure for immediate delivery. Additional uncooled bottles may then be placed in the track structure to substantially completely fill the track structure and at this time further bottles may be placed on the supporting members 22, 28 and 4'.

Upon deposit of a coin in the coin controlled mechanism 40, the shaft 38 will be released so that the handle 42 may be rocked downwardly to thereby rotate the cage 3|. Rotation of the cage 3| in a clockwise direction will release the lowermost bottle in the cooling chamber l5 and this released bottle will drop downwardly onto the short track 43, rolling down this track and dropping onto the track or wall 48. The bottle on the track 48 will then roll to the left into the delivery chamber It so that the released bottle may be removed by opening of the door II. The short track 43 provides a guard means above the open top delivery chamber I6, so that it will not be possible for a person to open the door SI and reach into the housing It to remove a bottle from the track structure.

The fan structure 59 is adapted to be substantially continuously operated so as to maintain a continuous circulation of cool air from the coil 62 upwardly along the track structure in the cooling chamber l5, and then downwardly in the return chamber 25. At the time the charging door 51 is open to charge the tracks with bottles the switch structure 80 will be moved by means of the spring II to a circuit breaking position, so that the fan 65 will not draw in warm air in the cooling chamber I5 or force any of the cool air in this chamber out through the open doorway. Upon opening of the delivery door II after the handle 42 has been operated, the light bulb '64 will be lighted by means of the spring 82 moving the switch structure II to a circuit 'holding bottles indisengaged position with respect to the track for pro-cooling certain bottles in said cabinet, a charging door carried by said cabinet confronting a portion of said members, means circulating cool air in said chamber, and means engageable with said door and connected with said circulating means for stopping said air circulating means when said door is opened.

2. A refrigerated article dispensing structure comprising a cabinet, a cooling chamber in said cabinet, a coil chamber below said cooling chamber, an article supporting track in said cooling chamber including a plurality of opposed and oppositely inclined J-shaped track forming members disposed in superposed relation, a semicylindrical perforate delivery case at the lower end of said track and normally disposed with the concave side thereof confronting the lower end of said track, means for rotating said cage to deliver an article below said track while simultaneously holding the next succeeding article against downward movement, a vertically disposed air return duct in said cabinet, a cooling coil below said chamber, a circulating fan for drawing air from the lower portion of said duct through said coil and forcing said air upwardly into said cooling chamber, a delivery track beiiverytrackiorwardlyotsaidfanandmeansior coolingch'amber, an'article supporting track in said cooling vchamber including a plurality oi.' oppooed and oppositely inclined .l-shaped track forming members disposedvin superposed relation, a semi-cylindrlcal perforate delivery We at the lower endofsaidn'ackandnormallydisposedwith theconcavesidethereotconfrontingthelower endotsaidtrachmeansforrotatingsaidcageto deliveranarticlebelowsaidtrackwhilesimultaueously holding the next succeeding article against downward movement, a vertically disposed air return duct. in said cabinet, a cooling coll below said chamber, a circulating fan for drawing air from the lower portion of 'said duct through said coil and forcing said air upwardly into said cooling chamber, a delivery track beelowsaidcageguardmeanscarriedbysaiddelivery track forwardly of said fan, means for coolingsaidcoiLacha-mingdoorcarriedbysaid cabinet, andmeans engageable with said chargingdoorandconnectedwlthsaidianiorstop pingsaldhnwhensaiddoorisopened.

supporting track including a plurality' of opposed and oppositely inclined substantially .I-shaped superposedtrackiormingmembers,abottlebottom engaging railflxedto each member adjacentonelonsitudinal'edgethereof,abottleneck engagin tudinal edge of said member for adjustment toward or from said first rail. v v

5.1!: a bottle dispensing structure, a bottle supporting track including a plurality of opposed and oppositely inclined substantially J-shaped.

superposed track forming members, a bottle bottom engaging railfixedto each member adjacent from said first rail, and means for vertically adjusting said second rail relative to a member.

6. As a new article of manufacture a regulate ing device for regulating the temperature oi bottied liquids comprising a closed receptacle for receiving a liquid, a stopper for said receptacle, and

a thermostat disposed in said receptacle and supported from said stopper.

. 1 FRANCIS GREEN, Jn.

4.--Inabottledispensingstructure,abottleraiLand means mounting said latter rail on amember inwardly oi the opposite longi- 

